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John Symond AM - Founder and Executive Chairman, Aussie.

John Symond, Executive Chairman of Aussie, is widely credited with bringing competition to the Australian home lending industry, forcing the banks to drop their mortgage interest rates and lifting their service levels.

He is well known as a consumer champion, culminating in a Member of the Order of Australia Award being presented to him in 2002.

Aussie has grown to become Australia's leading mortgage broker, with a loan portfolio now worth more than $55 billion and almost 1000 mortgage brokers in both city and country areas, following the acquisition of Wizard Home Loans in early 2009 and nMB in 2012.

John's life is a typically Australian one—a happy childhood in Brisbane and Sydney's west, a near miss with financial failure after the 1987 crash and subsequent emergence as one of Australia's most inspiring businessmen.

Aussie's introduction of a range of home loan products and low interest rates has created innovation, competition and higher service standards in the Australian home loan market. This has delivered savings to many Australian families, who have taken advantage of the lower interest rates from non-bank lenders.

Since its inception in 1992, Aussie has created a series of firsts in Australian home lending:

Dramatically lifting competition in housing finance.

The introduction of securitisation in home loans, resulting in lower interest rates.

John is the father of two children and proud of his ongoing achievement in making home ownership more affordable for Australian families.

In recognition of his services to the industry, he was inducted into the Australian Banking and Finance Magazine's Hall of Fame in May 2004—the first non-banker to join the prestigious group of members.

Aussie has been voted Australia's Top Mortgage Broker by The Adviser for three years' running.

In April 2005, John pushed the boundaries in the financial services sector with the launch of a low rate Aussie MasterCard®. Since then the company has broadened its scope of financial products with the launch of car and personal loans, home and contents insurance and Deposit Power®, whilst increasing the number of Aussie stores to more than 160 across Australia.

John believes in giving back to the community the support they've shown to Aussie. He has created the John Symond Foundation to help a range of charities.